MINNEAPOLIS -- Domination of the second set helped No. 7 ranked Pequot Lakes to a deciding 6-1 victory over New London-Spicer in the Class 1A State Team Quarterfinals Tuesday, Oct. 22, at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center.
The Patriots dropped just seven combined game points during the second set of its six victories, including Madison Pluimer’s 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 3 singles.
“All of the matches started out pretty close and they just kind of unfolded,” Pequot head coach Monica Sergent said. “We were fortunate, in that even though they were close, we were able to win the first sets at six of the positions. That gave those six positions confidence going into the second set.
“That confidence and that first set win, I think, helped the girls breath a little easier.”
Carly Chaney made quick work of her No. 4 singles opponent for a 6-1, 6-1 victory and Pequot swept the doubles position to advance to the semifinal round where it will face No. 3 ranked Rochester Lourdes. Last year, Lourdes finished third for the second-straight year.
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Megan Muller, who is Pequot’s lone representative in the Class 1A State Individual Tournament, picked up the Patriots’ other victory at No. 1 singles with a 6-4, 6-1 win. All six Pequot wins were in straight sets against the Section 5-1A champion Wildcats.
“We didn’t really know what to expect so we just decided to worry about playing our best game,” Sergent said. “We figured if we did that then things would work out just fine, which they did. That’s been our philosophy all year and we’ve been successful with that. So we decided to stick with what’s worked.”
The victory pushes Pequot’s record to 25-1 on the season and landed Sergent her 300th career victory. She said she didn’t mention to her players that she was close. She felt they didn’t need the extra pressure.
“Because this was our first time (at state), there was no pressure on us,” Sergent said. “We were just here to try and play our best and see what happens. Fortunately, something great happened.”
Pequot Lakes 6, New London-Spicer 1
Singles
No. 1: Megan Muller (PL) def. Ava Hanson 6-4, 6-1
No. 2: Izzy Schmiesing (NLS) def. Courtney Boller 6-4, 6-1
No. 3: Madeline Pluimer (PL) def. Kamryn Quenemoen 6-1, 6-0
No. 4: Carly Chaney (PL) def. Mya Mayhew 6-1, 6-1
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Doubles
No. 1: Alexa Fyle-Elli Saxerud (PL) def. Ruby Parson-Morgan Rolighed 6-3, 6-1
No. 2: Madeline Sherman-Afton Crocker (PL) def. Megan Warner-Ashley Templer 6-1, 6-2
No. 3: Morgan Lueck-Quinn Trottier (PL) def. Taylor Barber-Shannon Monson 6-4, 6-2
Pequot Lakes 6, New London-Spicer 1
Key: Pequot’s six wins all came in straight sets
Overall: PL 25-1
Next: Pequot Lakes vs. Rochester Lourdes in Class 1A State Team Semifinals at Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center, Minneapolis 8 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23.
